Xylitol — Popular Sweetener That Can Be Deadly to Your Dog
DogFoodAdvisor is reader supported See how
Dog Food Advisor is 100% impartial and is never paid to promote any brand. But if you buy using links on this page, we may earn a referral fee.
Xylitol is a popular artificial sweetener that can be deadly to your dog. It can also be listed as “birch sugar” on a food product label.
According to the Food and Drug Administration, the accidental consumption of xylitol by a dog can cause a sudden and life-threatening drop in blood sugar, seizures, liver failure and… death
To help warn dog owners, the FDA has created the following video:
What Products Contain Xylitol?
Food products that may contain xylitol include certain brands of peanut butter… which can sometimes be used as a tasty “stuffing” for Kongs® and other chewable dog toys.
Other products that may contain xylitol include:
- Chewing gum
- Peanut butter
- Breath mints
- Mouthwash
- Candies
- Toothpaste
- Baked goods
- Tooth whiteners
- Chewable vitamins
- Sugar-free desserts (like “skinny” ice cream)
Brands with a Prior History of Xylitol Content
The following brands have previously been known to contain xylitol. Some of these products may no longer contain the toxic sweetener. So, be sure to check the ingredients of each item listed.
- Orbit®
- Trident®
- Icebreakers®
- Stride®
- Pure®
- Mentos®
- Spry®
- Go Nuts1
- Nuts ‘N More2
- Hank’s Protein Plus3
- P28 Foods High Protein Spread4
- Krush Nutrition Nutty by Nature5
- Xylimax
- Xylishield
- Spry Mints
- Spry Chewing Gum
- Xlear Nasal Spray
- Nicorette Gum
- Xylichew Gum
- Ricochet
This list is not complete. Consumers are cautioned to read the labels of all products before bringing them into any environment shared with dogs.
Our Editor’s Top Picks
December
- Best Dog Foods by Category
- Best Puppy Foods
- Best Dry Puppy Foods
- Best Wet Puppy Foods
- Best Small Breed Puppy Food
- Best Large Breed Puppy Foods
- Best Dry Dog Foods
- Best Wet Dog Foods
- Best Senior Dog Foods
- Best Dog Foods for Allergies
- Best Dog Food for Specific Breeds
- Best Dog Food for Weight Loss
- Best Budget-Friendly Dog Foods
Final word
The Dog Food Advisor does not accept money, gifts, samples or other incentives in exchange for special consideration in preparing our reviews.
However, we do receive a referral fee from online retailers (like Chewy or Amazon) and from sellers of perishable pet food when readers click over to their websites from ours. This helps cover the cost of operation of our free blog. Thanks for your support.
For more information, please visit our Disclaimer and Disclosure page.